Circuit-controlling device



A ril 22, 1930. M, H, SHOENBERG El AL. 1,755,564

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1927 FILE 5-15..

2. ml: "142%ZWQ INVENTORS MfH-an H- Shaenberg Le er .Schpn Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HILTON H. SHOENBERG AND LESTER SGHON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; SAID SCHON ASSIGNOR TO SAID SHOENBERG CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed April 23,

This invention relates generally to devices for controlling current supplied by electric lamp sockets or receptacles.

It is an object of this invention to devise a simple and compact device which is adapted to control current supplied by an electric lamp socket or receptacle of the bayonet type.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a novel means for mounting an electric o circuit controlling element, the mounting be ing specifically adapted for use with a receptacle or socket of the bayonet type.

The nature 'ofthis invention may be outlined briefly as comprising a metal sleeve which is adapted to be removably inserted in a socket of the bayonet type. Slidably secured to this sleeve, there is an insulating member which carries a circuit-controlling element. A pair of contact elements mountgo ed on one face of this member make electrical connection with the contacts of the socket, while another pair of contacts on the opposite face make connection with the terminals of a pin connector or lamp base which may be inserte in the sleeve. The controller preferably'eflects recurrent variations in the current to repeatedly flash a lamp inserted inthesleeve.

Other objects of this invention will appear so from the following description in which we have set forth the preferred embodiment of our invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a ran of equivalents consistent with the state as of e prior art.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 IS a side elevational view artly in cross section, showing the device 0 this invention applied to a socket of the bayonet type.

I Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating the construction of the mounting for the circuit controlling element. a

Fig. 2A is a detail view illustrating the construction of my circuit controller element.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view showing the mounting for the circuit controlling element.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device inserted in a standard electrical lamp 1927. Serial N0. 186,160.

socket for controlling the current supplied to an electric lamp.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the controlling element.

In the drawing we have illustrated the invention as applied to a lamp socket or receptacle 10 of standard construction, the particular socket shown being what is commonly known as a socket of the bayonet type. Sockets of this kind usually comprise a metal sleeve 11 adapted to receive a standard male connector or the base of an electric lamp, this sleeve having an L-sha (1 locking slot 12. Mounted within the sleeve 11 are the elec-. trical contacts 13 which are generally in the form of metal plungers resiliently urged outwardly by means of compression springs 14. Ordinarily the contacts 13 are adapted to re siliently press against'and make electrical connection with the terminals of an electric lamp or other connector.

In this invention a disc or button shaped member 16 is included between the contacts 13 and a lamp base or connector which is associated with the socket. The construction of member 16.is shown in detail in Figs. 2,

2A and 3 and preferably comprises a two part casing of insulating material formed of a cup shaped portion 17 over the open face of which is disposed the 1 closure disc 18. The cup shaped portion 17 carries a pair of contact elements 21 and 22-, while the closure 18 carries a pair of like contact elements 23 and 24.

Member 16 is carried by a metal sleeve 26, this sleeve being adapted to be removably inserted in the lamp socket 10. For example sleeve 26 has been shown as being provided with a movement of member 16 with respect to the sleeve, the cup-shaped portion is provided with a slot 34 which is adapted to be engaged by a projection 36.

The enlarged portion of sleeve 26 is pro-- vicled with the usual L-shaped slot 37 so as to receive the pin 38 of a lamp base or male connector. The thickness of member 16 is such that when a lamp is inserted in the sleeve, contact elements 21 and 22 are pressed against the contacts 13 of the socket 10, while contact elements 23 and 24 are pressed against the terminals 41 and 42 of the lamp base. The circuit controlling element, designated generally at 43 is disposed within the cup-shaped portion 17, and is electrically associated with the contacts 21 to 24. \Vhen the lamp base 31 is being insertedinto the sleeve 26, it forces member 16 and contacts 13 inwardly against thepressure of springs 14. With the lamp base in operative position, springs 14 serve to press contacts 13 and member 16 against the contact terminals of the lamp, since in this position member 16 does not abut the annular projection 33. It is thus evident that the limited sliding movement which is provided between the members 16 and the sleeve 26 serves to utilize the compression springs 14 for the purpose of resiliently pressing all of the contacts together, thus obviating the necessity of making contacts 23 and 24 of a spring or of a yieldable character.

The particular circuit controlling element 43 which we have shown is for the purpose of recurrently varying current'supplied by the socket. It comprises a metal plate 46 which is substantially semi-circular in shape and to which is secured oneend of a bi-metallic strip 47. Upon the free end of strip 47, there is mounted a movable contact 48 which cooperates with a relatively stationary contact 49. Contact-49 is carried by a metal strip 51, which is secured to the plate 46 as by means of an eyelet 52, the strip 51 and eyelet 52-being insulated from plate 46 as by means of an insulating washer 53. Extending integrally fromthe'metal strip 51, there is a spring strip contact 54, which, when the controlling element is assembled within the two part insulating casing, is adapted to resiliently press against the inner end of contact element 23. The metal plate 46, to which the bi-metallic strip 47 is ordinarily grounded, is likewise adapted to press against and make electrical contact with the inner end of contact element 21. A heating resistance 56' is positioned upon the bi-metallic strip 47 this resistance being preferably in the form' of fine enamelled resistance wire which is wound directly upon strip 47, after the strip has been covered with a suitable insulation, one end of this wire being ordinarily grounded to strip 47. When the circuit controller is of the shunt type, one end of resistance 56 is connected to bi-metallicstrip 47 or .to contact 48, while the other end is connected to contact 49. It is obvious howwhich the device is intended to be used. Contacts 22 and 24 are ordinarily connected to gether by means of a pin 57, and in fact these contacts may merely be the heads of a rivet which is passed directly through the cupshaped portion 17 and closure 18. This pin also serves to retain the two parts of the casing together. Plate 46 may be provided with integral tabs 59 to retain the bi-metallic strip 47 out of contact with the inner wall of cup shaped portion 17.

The manner in whi'ch'this circuit controlling element is electrically associated with the circuit of the lamp socket is illustrated in the circuit diagram of Fig.5. From this diagram it is seen that the current supply lines L and L supply the contacts 41 and 42 of a lamp or other connector through the contacts of the circuit controller. When the circuit is established, the current first flows through the heating resistance 56 to increase the temperature of the bi-metallic strip 47, thus causing this strip to flex to close contacts 48 and 49. The full current value then flows through the lamp to light the same to full brilliancy. Closing of contacts 47 and 48 however shunts out the resistance 56 thus permitting this resistance to cool to again open the contacts. Thus with such anarrangement the current supplied to aflamp is recurrently varied to flash the lamp.

lVith circuit controllers of this kind, difficulty is sometimes experienced in keeping the period of flash substantially constant. tendency for the period to Vary is'caused by the gradualincrease in temperature of the metallic plate 46 which results in a higher operating temperature for the bi-metallic strip 47. The change in the timing of the controller element which thus results may be offset byconstructing the. metal strip 51 of himetallic material so that contact 49 is away from contact 48 when the controllerelement becomes heated. This movement of contact 49 serves as a compensating means so that during long periods of operation, the timing will remain substantially constant.

In operating at relatively high voltage, say on the order of 200 to 300 volts, the resistance for the strip 47 should be of special construction. It has been found that adequateohmage may be obtained by winding with a plurality of layers of line resistance wire. In practice good results have been obtained by first wrapping a thin insulating cloth about the bi-metallic strip 47 and then wrapping over this insulation, onelayer of fine enameled resistance wire. This first layer is then coated with a suitable varnish which will withstand a relatively high temperature, and the wire then wrapped back across the first layer. The second layer is likewise treated with varnish, and when the The varnish has dried, the fine strands of wire will be effectively embedded in a material which will adequately conduct the heat to the bi-metallic strip 47. Unless the resistance wire is wound in this manner, it has been found that operation of the controller is erratic due to the fact that the heat is not properly conducted away from the top layer.

We claim: a l. A device for controlling current supplied by a lamp socket of the bayonet type,

ably secured to said sleeve, contacts carried by the opposite faces of said member, and means for preventing rotation of said member relative to the sleeve.

3. A device .for controlling current supplied by a socket of the bayonet type comprising a sleeve adapted to be inserted in said socket, a button shaped member slidably secured to said sleeve, contacts carried by opposite faces of said member, and circuit controlling means disposed within said member and electrically contacts.

4. A device for controlling current supplied by a socket of the bayonet type comprising a sleeve adapted to be inserted in a socket,

associated withsaid a button shaped member of insulating ma-v terial slidabl disposed in said sleeve, contacts carried y 0pposite faces of said member, and means electrically associated with said contacts and secured to said member for recurrently varying current supplied by said socket.

5. A device for controlling current supplied by a socket comprising a sleeve adapted to be inserted in a socket of the bayonet type, a hollow button shaped member secured to said sleeve and slidable relative thereto, contacts carried by opposite faces of said memsecured to said mounting, said mounting serving to conduct a minor portion of the heat developed by saidresistance to said compensating bimetallic strip, and cooperating contacts carried by free ends of said strips, said compensating strip serving to keep the period of said device substantially constant.

7. In a circuit interrupting device, a relatively fiat member, a bimetallic strip secured to one face of said member, a resistance in thermal contact'with said strip, a compensating bimetallic strip mounted upon the other face of said member, and cooperating contacts carried by the free ends of said strips,

said compensating strip serving to keep the period of said device substantially constant.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

MILTON H. SHOENBERG. LESTER SCHON.

ber, thecontacts on one face being adapted to cooperate with the contactsof the socket, sald member and said sleeve forming a receptacle of the bayonet'type, and circuit interrupting means disposed within said member.

6. Ina circuit interrupting device, a bimetallic strlp, a mounting to which one end of said strip is secured, a resistance in ther-' mal contactwith said strip,aoompensatingbimetallic strip of substantially less length than a said first strip and having one end of the same 

